Reviews

Jade Empire

In addition to setting your beginning physical attributes, you also have to select several starting fighting styles. Jade Empire starts you off with a Martial (or attack) style and a Support style, and you'll be able to learn additional skills as you progress through the game, including Magic, Weapon, and Transformation styles. Each of these styles has three different attributes that can be upgraded every time you level up, although you'll be hard-pressed to max out more than one or two. While Martial styles can be used at any time, Magic and Transformation styles require you to have enough Chi left, and Weapons can only be used when you've still got some Focus energy in your gauge. There are a ton of fighting styles that can be learned throughout the game, although there are quite a few that may not be available to your character, depending on his or her alignment.

Of course, the only reason you'll want to learn new fighting styles is to give your opponents a beatdown, and there are plenty of opportunities for that as you make your way through the game. Unlike KotOR, Jade Empire isn't turn-based, but it's also not a button-mashing action game. The combat system actually requires you to react to your opponent's moves and decisions, and it works a bit like a game of rock/scissor/paper. Basically, blocking beats a fast attack, a heavy attack smashes through a block, and a fast attack interrupts a heavy attack. So, you can hit the fast attack button all you want, but it will never be enough to get through an opponent's block. While it's an easy system to pick up, it will take a while to master. Best of all, if you ever feel like the fighting is getting too easy (or too hard), you can change the difficulty by going to the character menu. There's a huge difference between Student, Master, and Grand Master, so you'll always have a challenge if you want it.

There are plenty of other things to love about the combat system, including the ability to leap over your opponent or roll to evade his attacks, simply by holding block and pushing in a direction. You can also switch styles on the fly by mapping them to the D-pad on the character menu, allowing you to quickly adapt if necessary. Most satisfying, however, are the Harmonic Combos, which can be pulled off when you start with a Support attack and finish with a Martial attack. The Support attacks generally slow down (or in some cases, freeze) your opponent, making it easier to finish him off with a strong attack in the Martial style of your choice. If the timing is right (indicated by a gauge under your opponent that goes from green to yellow), your foe will die a gory and painful death. The combat system is a blast once you learn its intricacies, especially when you have a wide variety of styles to choose from.

One of the best things about the game is the fact that you won't have to spend the majority of your time swapping out armor, weapons, or items. There isn't much in the way of inventory in Jade Empire, and it's refreshing to be able to focus solely on the gameplay, rather than ensuring you're wearing the right boots or carrying the best sword for the task at hand. However, if playing dress up is your thing, you'll be happy to know that there is a system in place for collecting gems that can boost certain attributes when equipped. While having the right gems in your amulet can certainly help a bit, it's a quick and easy process, and you'll be back to kicking ass and taking names before you know it.